Federal cabinet extends ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, addressing a post-cabinet meeting press conference, said Cabinet approved a report presented to it on the banned outfit by the committee tasked to review the decision to blacklist the organisation.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

The committee, in the report, informed that the decision to ban TLP was based on merit, as this proscribed organisation has been blamed for martyring police personnel, torturing them, and burning down places, he said.

Following the report, the cabinet decided to keep the ban intact, the minister said, adding that the Ministry of Law and Justice was working to get TLP's election symbol cancelled.

The Minister said the cabinet also gave approval to a 25 per cent special allowance to the armed forces to bring their salaries at par with other departments. He said the Prime Minister also instructed to extend this facility to Rangers and FC as they were not included initially.

He said it was also approved to fix retail prices of 49 medicines.

Chaudhry Fawad said the cabinet was informed that Saudi Arabia would release 85 Pakistani prisoners on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.

He said a special plane would be dispatched to bring them back from Saudi Arabia. He said the government is also making strenuous efforts to bring Pakistani citizens detained in different countries on minor charges.

Regarding the Covid situation in Pakistan, Information Minister said 20 million people have so far been vaccinated. He said over half a million people were vaccinated yesterday alone, which is the highest number since the start of the vaccination drive.

Federal Minister said Asset Management Company is being established to manage the properties of the federal government. He said the Prime Minister expressed concerns about the depleting green areas in Islamabad due to the unplanned expansion of residential societies.

The minister added that the Prime Minister also directed different institutions, including Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force, to remove fences from their properties to protect green areas.

Fawad Chaudhry said Imran Khan also instructed the Chairman of Capital Development Authority to make the federal capital an encroachment free area.

He said the Prime Minister also directed to take necessary measures to allow common people in VVIP clubs.

The Minister said that the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions presented a report on Afghan Refugees in Pakistan. He said the international community should extend maximum cooperation to bring peace to Afghanistan and resolve the issue of Afghan refugees.